Western Tool Works

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Gale Model C (1906)

Western Tool Works was an American automobile manufacturer that manufactured automobiles under the Gale name in Galesburg, Illinois from 1905 to 1907 .

history

In addition to the cars, the company also built machine tools and wall safes. The automobile production came about through DW Cook , who had previously manufactured an automobile under his own name in Chicago, Illinois . Cook was unable to agree to a sale through the mail order company Sears, Roebuck and Company , as Sears only wanted to pay less than US $ 200 per car. Finally, in 1905, an agreement was reached with Western Tool Works on series production.

In 1905 only five copies (models A and B) were built, but in the following year demand increased significantly and different models were offered. Some vehicles were even exported to Europe and Australia.

In 1907 the Western Tool Works got into economic difficulties, concentrated again on their core business and stopped manufacturing automobiles. A total of approx. 600 single-cylinder models and approx. 140 two-cylinder models had been manufactured in three years.

EP Robson Manufacturing Company took over what was left of the company's automotive division.

Models

In 1905, Western built the Gale Model A , an open roadster that cost US $ 500, less than the high- volume Oldsmobile Curved Dash for US $ 650, Ford's Doctor's Car for US $ 850, or the Holsman for the same price. The Black, on the other hand, cost US $ 375 and the Success only US $ 275.

The car was equipped with a water-cooled single cylinder engine with 1925 cm³ displacement (bore × stroke = 127 mm × 152 mm) as standard. It had chain drive to the rear wheels, 89 cm long, elliptical leaf springs, 28 'wheels with 76 mm wide tubular tires and came with a tool box.

In the same year Western offered the Gale Model B, which cost US $ 650 . It was designed exactly like the Model A, but also had a leather roof, staple tires, a horn and brass headlights.

In 1907, Western offered the 26 bhp (19 kW) Gale Model K-7 with a Phaeton body for US $ 1,250.

model Construction period cylinder power wheelbase Superstructures
A. 1905 1 8 bhp (5.9 kW) 2032 mm Runabout 2 seats
B. 1905 1 8 bhp (5.9 kW) 2032 mm Runabout with roof 2 seats
C. 1906 1 10 bhp (7.4 kW) 1854 mm Runabout 2 seats
D. 1906 1 10 bhp (7.4 kW) 1854 mm Runabout with roof 2 seats
E. 1906 2 row 20 bhp (14.7 kW) 2337 mm Touring car 5 seats
F. 1906 2 row 20 bhp (14.7 kW) 2337 mm Touring car 5 seats
G 1906 2 row 20 bhp (14.7 kW) 2337 mm Runabout 2 seats
C-7 1907 1 10 bhp (7.4 kW) 1854 mm Runabout 2 seats
G-7 1907 2 row 14 bhp (10.3 kW) 2184 mm Runabout 2 seats
K-7 1907 2 row 26 bhp (19.1 kW) 2413 mm Touring car 5 seats, Phaeton 5 seats

literature

  • Beverly Ray Kimes, Henry Austin Clark Jr .: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause Publications, Iola 1985, ISBN 0-87341-045-9 . (English)

Web links

Commons : Western Tool Works  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c d e Clymer, Floyd: Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925 , Bonanza Books, New York (1950)